She whispers, “Lord help me… I’m in love,” from the corner of her mouth.
I whisper back. “Oh my, God! You’re a grown ass woman, not a teenager at a damn One Direction concert! Stop it. Act your age!”
In answer, Natalee sighs again. She mutters, “Oh, Harry Styles has nothing on thatman.”
Is she serious? He’s just a man, Nat. Yes, he’s attractive, but you see attractive men all day, every day! We live in Los Angeles for God’s sake!
The man hops down the steps and holds his hand out to shake Archie’s before turning to me and taking my own into his. His palm is warm, and I can feel the strength in it. Amongst the strength, I also feel a few callouses. A working man’s hands. He smiles down at me and my stomach jumps a bit.
Damn… ok, I get it. Here’s a real man… but nothing to lose my mind over.
His voice is rich and deep as he says, “Welcome to the Double Down Ranch! I’m so glad y’all could come out. Was the drive in, ok? I hope Duke, one of our foremen out here, took good care of you on the way in. Y’all got an introduction, right?”
Archie nods. “We did. He did and thank you.”
The man nods at him and looks at all of us again. “Sorry. I need to introduce myself. I’m Rowdy Donovan, part owner of this beauty.” He holds his hand out to encompass the ranch before reaching behind him to include the older lady patiently waiting on the stairs. She smiles at him before walking down the stairs. “This, here, is my momma. Bessie. We’re so happy y’all are here.”
“Let’s get y’all into the house and settled. I’m sure y’all want to rest up a bit after the trip. We have several of y’all in the main house and the rest of the crew is spread out amongst the bunks.” He points to the scattering of buildings behind the greenhouse.
He gestures to the van we just stepped out of. “If you six want to come with me, I’ll show you to your rooms while Duke and some of the other fellas get your bags.
“Momma has some fresh squeezed lemonade made and she whipped up something, that sure smells good, to hold off the hunger until it’s time for dinner. We do dinner at seven out here.”
An “Excuse me, ma’am” from behind me has me stepping back. Glancing over my shoulder, I see Duke unloading the luggage from the back of the van and stacking it in the dirt of the drive.
Oh, God! That’s going to leave stains on the fabric.
Several men in jeans and dusty shirts are carrying various pieces of luggage. One of them is behind me with my lip printed rolling case in his large hands. He offers me a crooked smile and says, “Excuse me, ma’am,” again while pointing to the house.
I nod at him and step back again. My four-inch-heel catches on the uneven ground. I scream as my arms flail and I stumble backwards a few feet, desperately trying to catch myself and prevent myself from falling and showing all of these cowboys what’s under my silk dress.
It’s no use. I’m scrambling backwards. My heel sinks into something soft and I scream again as I trip. I’m going to fall… My feet are swept off the ground and I gasp as my back hits cold water and then, I’m thrust under it. I choke as the water fills my nose and mouth.
I’m going to die. Oh, God… I’m going to die in front of a bunch of hat wearing red-neck men. They’re covered from head to toe in red dirt.
My tombstone will read, “Here lies Eliza McCormick. A successful talk show star who freakishly suffocated in water in a hick town in Texas before she reached her true potential.”
Scrambling for purchase in whatever is trying to drown me, I find the bottom and grip the sides, managing to break free from the surface of the water. I feel my hair sticking to my face and swipe at it to try to breathe and see. I cough a few times and spit water out.
Exhaling in shock, I open my eyes. My lashes stick together.
The sound of muffled laughter infiltrates my dazed brain and I turn to glare toward where my dazed brain thinks the sound is coming from. I see Natalee about ten feet away, near the porch, looking horrified as she stands there with her mouth gaping open, waiting for flies to come in. Archie blinks and sputters, “Are you ok?”
Rowdy and his mother are both wide-eyed and appalled. He races toward me. “Oh, my god… Are you alright?”
The laughter comes again from beside me and I screech as I turn my head to see who dares to find this humorous.
My breath catches as I settle on the most gorgeous and offending man I have ever had the misfortune to see standing beside me… still chuckling. As he looks at me, a crooked grin settles on his stubbled cheeks. He chuckles again and bends down to hold out his hand, “And… who are you, darlin?!’”
Falcon
Well, so muchfor my avoiding Miss Fancy Pants… since she just went ass first into my horse trough and is currently looking at me like she wants to stab me through the eye with her ridiculous shoe while screaming loud enough to have my horses racing for Oklahoma.
A grin covers my face. She’s soaked and not looking quite so fancy at the moment. Though, the way her light pink dress is clinging to her every curve is quite eye-catching. I can see the lace of her undergarments.
I can’t help myself from goading her,“And… who are you, darlin.’?!”
Her eyes widen in disbelief and then a sneer covers her face as she gives me the once-over. She stands in the trough and grimaces as she wobbles once more. Her eyes never leave mine as she haughtily says, “Who am I?! Who the hell are you?
